President Andrzej Duda issued assurances yesterday that Poland would be “prepared for various scenarios” arising from the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Following Tuesday’s meeting of the Cabinet Council, Duda assured reporters that the government is “taking action; preparations are being made, and the necessary resources are being secured.”

One potential course of events, according to Duda, could be “an outbreak of a military conflict” and „the resulting influx of Ukrainian refugees” into Poland. He went on to reassure the Polish public that they “can feel safe – in every case, there will be an appropriate response.”

Duda finished by echoing calls for unity in the face of the Ukraine crisis, both domestically and within the European Union and NATO, as “Ukraine is very much in need of our support.”

Source: Radio Poland

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging citizens to celebrate today as an official “Day of Unity” amidst the ongoing threat of a Russian invasion.

In an official statement and public address on Monday, Zelensky noted that this is not the first threat faced by the Ukrainian people and applauded his countrymen for showing “their best qualities – unity and the will to win.”

As part of today’s celebrations, the official flag of Ukraine was raised on houses and buildings at 10:00 local time, accompanied by a broadcast of the national anthem.

President Zelensky also called for creating a single information platform, “UArazom,” to keep the public informed, along with a 20-30 percent increase in funding for the military, the State Border Guard Service, and the National Guard of Ukraine.

Reports by Russia that it was withdrawing some troops from the Ukrainian border have yet to be confirmed, with US President Joe Biden warning that “an invasion remains distinctly possible.”

Source: Reuters, president.gov.ua

More lenient isolation and quarantine rules have taken effect in Poland as health authorities say the end of the pandemic is in sight.

According to Health Ministry spokesman Wojciech Andrusiewicz, most regions of Poland are reporting significant decreases in the number of new infections, with an overall decrease of some 35% from the same period last week. Only the provinces of Kujawy-Pomorze and Pomerania continue to report slight increases of around 2%.

As of this week, the isolation period for people who have tested positive for coronavirus has been shortened from 10 to 7 days. Quarantine for those in the same household has also been shortened.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health confirmed 22,267 new coronavirus cases, including 2,408 re-infections and 378 additional deaths. In Pomerania, 1, 240 new cases were reported yesterday, mostly in Gdańsk (361) and Gdynia (234), with a further 14 COVID-related deaths.

Souce: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland

Two Polish actors will be joining the cast of “The Crown,” a popular TV series on the British royal family now filming its fifth season.

Anna Antonowicz and Michał Wiecławski will join a cast of well-known British actors, including Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, and Lesley Manville.

The fifth season will reportedly focus on the breakdown of Diana and Prince Charles’ marriage and the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997.

Because of the confidential nature of her contract, Antonowicz said she could not reveal any details relating to her role in the series but asked fans to “keep [their] fingers crossed.”

Season 5 of The Crown is set to premiere in November of this year.

Source: Radio Poland, bt.com

The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management is warning of wind gusts and heavy rainfall this week as Storm Dudley makes its way from the North Sea into the Baltic.

Preparation for Dudley is already underway in the UK, with the BBC reporting rail and ferry cancellations in Scotland and highway officials urging motorists to refrain from traveling unless “absolutely necessary.”

Dudley is expected to hit Poland over the next two days, with weather marked by “strong and gusty winds, intense rainfall, local storms, and significant pressure fluctuations.” Officials are warning of wind gusts of up to 100 km or over 60 miles per hour along the coast and the potential for devastating storms and a rise in seawater levels.

Source: PAP, BBC.com

Weather

Today will be cloudy and cold, with a strong breeze coming in from the south and a good chance of rain throughout the day. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than yesterday, with a high around 6°C, or 43°F, dropping slightly overnight to a low of 4°C or 40°F. Similar weather is expected tomorrow, with a good chance for rain throughout the week.

Elizabeth Peck